Strong soaps should never be used in washing woolens, nor should soap be applied directly to the garment. The soap should be used in solution. A great deal of stress is laid on having the water used in washing flannels not much more than lukewarm, for at a lukewarm temperature soap and water have a less detrimental action on wool. It is even more important than the lukewarm water to have all the waters used of the same temperature, in order to avoid changes from hot to cold water, or vice versa, as sudden changes in temperature cause shrinkage.

To wash flannels, two receptacles should be used. Into one of them water not too hot for the hand to bear comfortably should be poured and enough soap solution made from a neutral or mild soap or a wool soap added to make a good suds. If the water is hard, or the clothing is very much soiled, a tablespoon of borax or ammonia should be added for each gallon of water used, the garment shaken or brushed free from dust, and put into the water to soak for ten or fifteen minutes. Before beginning to wash the flannels, a second tub of water should be prepared having the same or a slightly higher temperature than that of the first. One garment should be washed at a time by drawing it through the hands and washing it up and down in the water; rubbing should be avoided if possible since this mats the fibers. The garments are passed from the first to the second water; the second water should be a suds if the first suds has not removed all the soil. They should be rinsed free of soap in several waters, the temperature being kept constant. They are then wrung through a loosely set wringer. They should be turned wrong side out and hung in a warm place, but not near a fire as heat will cause shrinkage. When nearly dry, they should be turned. When drying they must be shaped by pulling and stretching.

It is a mistake to ascribe all the shrinkage in woolen garments to washing. The moisture, heat, and movements of the body may cause a marked shrinkage.

If flannels are to be pressed, they should be allowed to dry first and should then be covered with a slightly dampened piece of cheese-cloth and ironed with a moderately hot iron. The cheese-cloth draws up the fibers of the flannel, giving it the fluffy appearance of a new garment. Underwear and woolen stockings should be stretched into shape and should not be ironed. For very soiled garments the soap formula given on page 256 will be useful.

Blankets are washed in the same way as other woolen articles, except that, because of their size, only two blankets or only one pair of them is washed at a time, and fresh water is used for each pair. After wringing, they may be stretched and dried on curtain stretchers. If stretchers are not available, blankets should hang on the line until perfectly dry, and occasionally the water should be squeezed from the hanging ends. To press them, they should be folded evenly and carefully and wrapped in a sheet. They should be kept smooth and unwrinkled, a flat board placed over them, weighted heavily and allowed to •remain thus for several days.

An excellent blanket wash may be made according to the following formula: *

1 large cake neutral soap 3 quarts cold water

2 tablespoons borax 1/2 cup wood alcohol

* Laundering. L. Ray Balderston.

In using the above wash, the soap should be shaved into the cold water, and heated at a low temperature until it is dissolved. It is then cooled and the borax added, mixed with the alcohol. The mixture should be poured into wide-mouthed jars, and kept air-tight. This quantity is sufficient for washing two pairs of blankets.

Sweaters or loosely woven or knitted garments should be washed as follows:

1. If the garment is silk, wool or cotton, follow the general directions for the laundering of garments made of these fabrics. A woven garment should be squeezed with the hands and lifted up and down in the water rather than rubbed on a board.

2. Measure the length and width of the different parts of the garment before wetting it. For example, in the case of a sweater, measure the length of the front, the width of the front, the length of the back, and the width of the back in several places, the length of the sleeve along the seam, and the length of the shoulder.

3. Spread one or more clean sheets, folded several times, on a flat surface such as a table, and place it where there is a good draft. Outdoors in the sunshine is a good place, if the garment to be dried is not too delicate in color. After the garment has been rinsed, place it with the back next to the folded sheet. Bring the fronts together, and place the sleeves in a nearly outstretched position.

4. After the garment has been placed as suggested, test the measurements with those taken before it was wet. Stretch it until it gives the correct measurements. If necessary, pin it into place.

5. When the garment is practically dry on the side exposed, turn it and let it dry on the other side. It may be necessary to turn the sweater several times.

This method is much better than hanging the garment on a coat-hanger after washing, because the size may be kept the same as before washing.